ABSTRACT
The Gerund is a verbal noun ending in -ing. That, I have found, is a difficult concept for many students to grasp, partly because many other words ending in -ing either form part of a finite verb –
They were running away He is writing an essay
– or function as adjectives:
the gurgling drain a refreshing drink
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that people find it very hard to imagine that a word ending in -ing can function as a noun. But that is what is happening in these three sentences:
1 Eating prawns is one of life’s pleasures. 2 They like playing football. 3 She bought some new bedding.
